How many are left?

[Logrover]

Proper timber cutters that is! I am part of a 4 man team and a few part timers. I can see why noone does it. Machinery has taken over leaving the rubbish that doesnt pay on tonnnage or winching jobs. After all the overheads and hard days its not a good wage! Plus your 560 falling apart every fives mins, a bar a month (usually less!).

[Rebel_Commando]

I was talking to a couple of young lads not long ago. They had both dropped out of college to work for a forestry contractor ( On the books). They were currently working on a contract up in Keilder.

They told me they were working 13 hour days over the summer, digs were provided by their boss but he only paid them fuel money for the 300 mile journey and nothing extra for wear and tear or having their car wrecked on the rough forestry tracks.

 

They had to buy their own PPE and he SOLD them saws to use,the 560 one of them was using,their boss WON in a timber sports comp!

He did pay to put them through their CS32/34 tickets but on the agreement that they stayed with him for a minimum of two years (which is fair enough imo)

 

 

Then they said they didnt actually know how much they got paid because they didnt have pay slips but they thought it was in the region of £5 p/h. There was a bonus on offer but they said they very rarely hit the bonus due to conditions.

In my eyes they were both grafters and good cutters too.

 

 

So if that's how it is for alot of other young lads trying to make it into forestry,I can see why there might be a shortage of good forestry cutters coming through because I can't see many sticking it out long term?

[Matt GT]

I would do it if there was work. As you say though machines took over.

 

I was part of a 5 man team doing thinning and clear-fells then it degraded to hairy edge trees as the harvesters moved in on most of the tree work. Then we were only getting work where the ground was SSSI and machines were not allowed in. Then it became carpark making tree cutting for FC carparks etc. The we got axed.

 

My ideal job was thinning Pine plantations.

 

I was one of the last cutters for NE Scotland Forest Enterprise (Forestry Commission). When they closed down the cutting squads and put everything out to contract I was lost. Had no idea what to do. I ended up going and getting an HND in IT. But that was a stupid move because that led to 12 years working in an office that nearly killed me by way of suicide. Now I just rambled into OT. Sorry. Long story that one.

 

I left offices and went back on the saws seeking work, nothing out there. Too many overheads and no customers willing to pay the cost needed to break even. Now I am about to sit my 38/39 to see if I can get some steady work as a groundie. I have experience as a groundie but this HSE world. It is only a matter of time before someone checks up. I doubt I will get work as a climber due to my age (40 which is a stigma and perception thing where I live) even though I am fitter than most 20 year old's and lack of 39/41 experience. To many folks up here think climbing is a young mans game only.

 

I would also like to add 34/35 because with all recent storms I keep wondering if there is some un-tapped work there. I spent a lot of time with FC doing windblow because before they axed the squads I was scheduled to those tickets.

I love doing windblow.

 

But. all these overheads just make it impossible to earn a living.

 

difficult very difficult I find with what to do.

 

Anyway sorry for that ramble on my first post here! Do you think machines leave a big ugly mess behind them or not anymore so than hand cutters?

 

And the wages do not reflect the job. Never have done! I used to do all this for 100 a week ok they supplied all ppe, training, gears and saws etc. But still.

Edited October 20, 2012 by Matt GT
spelling and err grammer :D

[Logrover]

nail on the head there, the only people making money are the sawmills and bosses. Cutters get the smallest amount for the hardest work and its not really enough to live on. Funnily i am the only one not living at home........so i think young cutters will cut till they need to pay bills then its no longer a viable job option as you need £100 a day every day but often it wont pay that. Fuel etc has gone up but wages havent. im looking to change job soon just due to financial issues and im totally knackered all the time!

we all know the timber trade is a bit tight but enough is enough sometimes.

[Mike Hill]

I did some in late 99 on the Scottish Borders,got blagged by the Boss over the phone and went up there expecting alot.The reality was about £40 a day,minus Fuel,spares,PPE etc.

 

Complete joke.

[Stephen Blair]

There are contractors working locally just now, I went for a nosey the other day, I saw a big larch go over and a cutter in the distance, so I made my way closer for a look.

I watched this old guy plod his way through a 18" stem with a pumped old saw, then head over to his base.

It was almost romantic until I saw him with his 2 seperate cans for fuel and oil!

That summed it up for me, worked to the bone for not even enough money to buy a combo can!!

[Stubby]

There are contractors working locally just now, I went for a nosey the other day, I saw a big larch go over and a cutter in the distance, so I made my way closer for a look.

I watched this old guy plod his way through a 18" stem with a pumped old saw, then head over to his base.

It was almost romantic until I saw him with his 2 seperate cans for fuel and oil!

That summed it up for me, worked to the bone for not even enough money to buy a combo can!!

 

I used to use a combi can but find it simpler to use the oil strait from the 5ltr can . the combi can always fell over in the truck and the top came off , made right old mess . I know its more to carry but hey ...

[Stephen Blair]

Jam it with something and it won't fall over

[combined tree services]

It is nice to hear that there are still a few guys out there that are still cutting by hand , its a real shame that this is a skill that's almost lost now . That being said there is now a big push to reduce the number of heavy machines that are working in smaller woodlands and areas of interest . i wouldn't mind getting into a bit of hand cutting .

[Logrover]

The fuel can thing is a reality.......i used an old 61 the other day and went through 7 litres of fuel as my 560 was in for repair again. Use 5 litres a day through it normally. Overheads are just too much for me to keep it up long term. I dont buy anything if i can help it work wise, a bar and chain just cost me 60 quid so thats me sorted on that front for a couple of weeks,,,

Also dosent help that millers are always trying to do you on tonnage so it never weighs out as it should.

Smaller woods does not make it any better as by the time you have got to grips with the 7 specs they want you are finished then a few days off while next job is organised as its not been done in advance and it just makes it a joke.

Youl tell a young cutter on tonnage as hel be going like a bat out of hell and the older ones plod on as they have learnt that you dont make much more by killing yourself!

very sad

Edited October 20, 2012 by Logrover